North Cyprus Biz - North Cyprus Information

	29/08/2008 01:51:28

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North Cyprus Turtles

The Mediterranean is home to two of the seven remaining species of sea turtles left in the world. These are the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta) and Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas), both of which lay their eggs on the beaches of Northern Cyprus.

The turtles in the Mediterranean are smaller than those found in larger oceans and the loggerheads that nest in North Cyprus are the smallest in the world.

North Cyprus has the 3 rd and 5 th most important nesting beaches in the Mediterranean for the green turtle. It is estimated that 10% of the Mediterranean's Loggerheads and 25% of Greens lay eggs on the beaches of North Cyprus.

Turtle activity takes place from June to September. June and July is when the turtles come up onto the beach to lay their eggs. August and September is when the hatchlings make their way to the sea.

During the summer months volunteer students, organized by Exeter University, monitor turtle activity at Alagadi beach (a few miles east of Kyrenia). Between the hours of 9 pm and 5 am the students patrol the beach on the lookout for turtles coming ashore to nest.

You can arrange to go out with the students for a night, but the numbers are limited, so if you would like to volunteer you would be advised to book it with them a week or so in advance. Later in the season when the excavation of the nests is being done there’s no limit on the numbers.

When a turtle nests successfully the place and date are recorded in order to ascertain the date (50 - 60 days later) the nest will hatch.

You can visit www.seaturtle.org/tracking/ and follow the migration of a green turtle called Celia who was fitted with a tracking last season. Or even adopt a turtle for £20.00. The project relies totally on donations, sales of tee shirts and other turtle memorabilia, so needs all the support it can get.

A Turkish/German group under the supervision of the Ministry for the Environment is carrying out monitoring of the turtles in the Karpaz. Visitors are able to stay at Golden Beach (from where the operation is controlled).

The Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas)

The green turtles carapace (upper shell) is coloured olive green and dark brown. Mature females measures up to a metre in length and weigh around 70 kilograms. Once her nest is dug she may lay as many as 200 eggs. She feeds in the shallow coastal waters on a diet of marine grasses, which tints her fat green and gives her name. The Green Turtle sometimes emerges onto land in order to bask in the sun.

The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta)

Smaller than the Green Turtle the Loggerhead can grow to around 70- 80 cm and weigh about 50 kilograms. Its carapace can range in colour from a light brown to a dark reddish brown. The Loggerhead Turtle lays up to 100 eggs and lives on a diet of small sea creatures including jellyfish, mussels, clams, oysters and a variety of small fish.

Click here to view the turtle gallery

Further Information

Marine Turtle Research Group
Centre for Ecology and Conservation
Department of Biology
University of Exeter
Hatherly Laborities
Exeter EX4 4PS

Email: abroderick@seaturtle.org
Web: www.seaturtle.org/mtrg

Society for the Protection of Turtles in Northern Cyprus
P.K. 42, Girne
Mersin 10
Turkey

Email: ianbell@iecnc.org

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North Cyprus Turtles